Methods and systems for the provision of remote printing services over a network
US6859832B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 16, 2000 |
| Grant date | Feb 22, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 10, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F3/1286
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention relates to methods and systems for providing printing services over a communications network. In particular, the present invention enables a user to obtain print jobs at an unspecified location which may be remote from the source of the print job. A spooling server is used to store a print job received via the network from a print job source. A printer polling device, which may be at a location remote from the print job source, is capable of polling the spooling server via the network to identify whether any print jobs associated with the printer polling device are available for printing at an associated printer. The spooling server need not initiate contact with the printer through a firewall, since it is polled by the printer polling device. Thus, network security is maintained. A fee can be charged for the printing services provided.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.